PARK PROPOSAL, LOCAL AUCTION & BIG FIRE CATCH-UP

Main topic of discussion when parish councillors went through business online this week was a proposal by Mike Huda to put more picnic tables in Weir Park, fixed in with seating.

It was his impression that people were finding it hard to find places to eat with reasonable social distancing and he observed that the change of need would be around for a year or two.

But other councillors were wary of eating up more of the green space still available for games and gatherings.

They agreed to meet up in the park this Saturday afternoon to see what might go where and consider the options.

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Eric Hemsil reported moves to re-build the cricket nets area at the roadside end of Fillace playing fields, which might eventually involve an application to the council for grant aid for an all-weather wicket. It was agreed to encourage the project with caution, to see what interest it generated.

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Devon councillor Phil Sanders said Dartmoor NPA had been surprised by a surge in planning applications over lockdown and were well behind on processing them because they are still not making site visits. But some matters would be dealt with this Friday, at a meeting being streamed live through the authority website – including the proposal to develop Devonia House at Yelverton into a new private hamlet, with new access off the A386.

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DNPA also wrestling with a return of visitor traffic while its toilets are all still closed, he mentioned.

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At county level, some funding was being made available to make town centres more bicycle friendly, in case of a permanent shift of habits. Meanwhile, Cllr Sanders warned, roadside parking rules would be enforced again from next week.

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LAST CHANCE TO BID FOR …

The photo does not do justice to the detail in this lockdown painting from Robin Armstrong – a charming wren he has donated to Team Horrabridge as a fund raiser. Bids for it must be in by this Friday night (May 22) , by email to Teamhorrabridge@gmail.com

Three elderly villagers were evacuated and have been staying with relatives since the fire at the end of Chapel Lane last Saturday. It took out two neighbouring garages, melted a car in one and a mothballed motorbike in the other and filled the adjoining houses with smoke.

What looked to the fire brigade at first like a routine two-engine call ended up involving five teams, from Tavistock, Yelverton, Bere Alston, Crownhill and Totnes, to get the flames shut down in the nick of time, with the rafters of the 1960s bungalows under immediate threat

A gardener working for Ken and Josȇ Belshaw, both 87, raised the alarm and got them out, along with neighbour, Doris Cobb, 97, around 11 am. Mr and Mrs Belshaw are staying their daughter, Ann Dawes, top of of School Lane, and Mrs Cobb with hers, Jenny Packman, in Phoenix Close. Both families have asked to record heartfelt thanks to the firefighters and all the friends and neighbours who rallied round. No explanation yet of what ignited first.